Vapemeisters opens downtown, grand opening set Saturday

Vapemeisters, 420 Main St., opened its doors earlier this month and will have a grand opening celebration on Saturday.

The steampunk-themed shop sells vaping supplies and e-cigarettes. They have a tasting bar and a vaping lounge in the back of the newly renovated space.

Owners Carl Kump and Jeffrey Kurth started the venture together after the two bought the commercial building last year. Originally they planned on renting it out, but then Carl came up with the idea of having a vape shop.

“Jeff and I have been friends for 27 years and we’ve just always worked together on different ventures,” he said. “When we started rehabbing this property though, we realized that we wanted to be part of the community.”

They also received a license to sell food and they plan to sell pizza. Within the next two months, they hope to have a liquor license.

Vapemeisters niche and product set is Eliquids, mods, starter kits, coils, batteries, e-cigarette, end e-cigarette pod systems, and a small selection of glass pipes for tobacco use only. Some of the liquids have nicotine and some do not. The weirdest flavor of vaping liquid they sell: pistachio.

“We wanted to give people a comfortable space where they can collect themselves, learn about vaping, share stories and have some camaraderie with other people,” Kump said. “And they can move away from big tobacco.”

Kurth, who does contracting work, made the tables and rehabbed the whole interior of the 137-year-old building, which had been an attorney’s office. The tasting bar is made of reclaimed items from Habitat for Humanity’s Restore shop. When the building first opened, it was a jewelry store.

Kump also came up with the steampunk theme and the mannequin named Dolly who sits in a chair at the front of the store, Kurth said.

“She’s our mascot,” Kurth said. “And I just had to put a top hat on her.”

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.